Tapping depth

[Maplesedge]

Is 3" too deep?

Most sources I've seen suggest up to 2 1/2", but wouldn't 3" return just a little more sap?

Especially in a big tree. How deep does the sap wood go?

Does drilling past the sap wood into the heartwood do any damage?

[morningstarfarm]

2 1/2 in is all you need.....inside of the bark that is..some of my old maples have bark 3/4" thick

[red maples]

depends on the tree. smaller tree less bark bigger tree more bark. I generally go in no more than 1-1/2 to 2 inches.

[jcr1709]

So you drill 2 1/2" deep AFTER you get through the bark? I did all of my tree saver hookless bucket spouts in 2" total including the bark. Do you think this "shallow" drilling will affect my sap totals. This is my first year so I have no record to compare it to? On the few good days we've had this year I've noticed a tap putting out about 2 gallons...was happy with that.

[morningstarfarm]

you're gonna be fine.

[PerryW]

I tap about 1.5 to 2 inches deep.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Tapping to deep and getting into the heart wood is bad. I believe that it can lead to rotting of the internal structure. The sap wood wont heal into that area leaving a void.